Who is the BPA at #9

[CPF4LIFE]

Its Coples for me if Claiborne doesnt drop. There is nobody else with enough potential for that pick on defense.

[Ken]

So no one wants Brockers??? I still want him. Guess i'm alone on this one.

[csx]

As a team we have a bad habit of targeting LB's and RB's in the 1st round. IMO that is not the way to have long term success in todays NFL.

Two first round LBers in 17 years is a bad habbit

As far as Coples, he'll be there for sure. I just hope he stays there.

[Jesse]

So no one wants Brockers??? I still want him. Guess i'm alone on this one.

I like Brockers, but I think Rivera trusts his ability to develop our DTs. If Coples is on the board I bet we take him.

[panthers55]

In the NFL of today there are positions that are more important than others.

LB and SS are two of the least valueable positions on the D side.

RB and RG are two of the least valueable on the O side.

Meaning that you can find these positions on the FA pile, the UDFA pile, late in the draft etc.

It is really really hard to find the more important positions like QB, LT, DE, DT, CB. Those are the tough ones, and IMO the ones that you should target high in the draft.

As a team we have a bad habit of targeting LB's and RB's in the 1st round. IMO that is not the way to have long term success in todays NFL.

NO argument that there are positions which are more highly compensated and prized. But instead of looking at things in general look at the specifics. Which linebacker in the FA market could we get who is cheap and can do it all??

Lofton is rated number 1 but is suspect in pass coverage and is being courted by several teams including New Orleans. Tulloch is the next but speculation is that both Lofton and Tulloch want a deal around 5 years-42 million. Then our own Dan Connor who we let go.

Fletcher who is 37???? Other guys with deficits???

I think that there are very few good players in the linebacker market this year.

That makes the draft more important to find depth and potential starters if Beason or Davis struggle.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120316/SPORTS01/203160477/No-Lions-movement-regarding-LB-Stephen-Tulloch-on-third-day-of-NFL-free-agency?odyssey=tab%7Cmostpopular%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

[panthers55]

The question was first asked, who is BPA, then asked a second question....who would you pick.

I am not doubting Kuechly as a player in any way. Just that IMO it would be foolish to draft a MLB when we have a top 5 MLB on the roster who we just signed to the highest inside LB contract in league history.

That said, no I don't think that LB's win you SB's in a 43 defense.

And if Beason doesn't come back 100% from the Achilles for 2 or 3 years or Davis goes down again, does it matter what you paid them???

[beastson]

This pick scares me

[csx]

No matter what there is going to be a player that can be an asset. Whether it be on either line or secondary or at linebacker.

There are lot's of options depending on how it unfolds.

[thefuzz]

NO argument that there are positions which are more highly compensated and prized. But instead of looking at things in general look at the specifics. Which linebacker in the FA market could we get who is cheap and can do it all??

Lofton is rated number 1 but is suspect in pass coverage and is being courted by several teams including New Orleans. Tulloch is the next but speculation is that both Lofton and Tulloch want a deal around 5 years-42 million. Then our own Dan Connor who we let go.

Fletcher who is 37???? Other guys with deficits???

I think that there are very few good players in the linebacker market this year.

That makes the draft more important to find depth and potential starters if Beason or Davis struggle.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120316/SPORTS01/203160477/No-Lions-movement-regarding-LB-Stephen-Tulloch-on-third-day-of-NFL-free-agency?odyssey=tab%7Cmostpopular%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

You don't have to have star players at the LB position. This is what I keep saying. You are wanting high paid stars at a position that you don't need them.

Same goes for RB.

S

[thefuzz]

And if Beason doesn't come back 100% from the Achilles for 2 or 3 years or Davis goes down again, does it matter what you paid them???

Yes, it does. It would create dead cap space going forward.

43 teams pick up LB's all the time. You don't have to pay them, nor draft them nearly as high/much as we do.

They just aren't that valueable.

[thefuzz]

Two first round LBers in 17 years is a bad habbit

As far as Coples, he'll be there for sure. I just hope he stays there.

Yes, it was/is.

Two LB's and two RB's in the first round in a 4 year span.

Yup, good drafting there.

And we aren't even talking about 34 OLB's....no sir, we are talking about 43 LB's.

[Yaboychris28]

Coples or jenkins

[pantherj]

Coples.

[scarface]

At this point Janoris Jenkins and Quinton Coples, would be my top 2 choices.